Dog stolen by mysterious woman right out of owner's yard

Owners are hoping for help after a beloved pet was stolen right out of her front yard while playing outside.

On May 7, a woman was seen on surveillance video walking up to Marlena Hanlon's home on Hubbard Street in southwest Detroit and picking Totem, a pug/boxer mix, right up off the front yard.

The woman is described as white and possibly in her 60s.

"When I first saw that video I felt nauseated," Hanlon said. "There was just some weird comfort that she had to enter someone's yard and to come right up to Totem. And I was also surprised because Totem is a smaller dog and can be a little bark-y, she didn't seem all that upset about the woman coming in either."

The woman also took Totem's leash and water bowl from the front porch. Hanlon said she posted the information to a neighborhood site and a neighbor called right away and said they saw her.

But that neighbor wasn't the only one. Not only was there a camera in front of the house. There was one in the back too. In the video, you can see a white SUV with a little girl sitting in the front. You can see Totem on her lap.

Hanlon said you could see they were traveling with another dog, and they don't know if that dog belonged to them or was another abducted dog.

Detroit police are actively working this case and a possible working theory is that the woman thought the dog was abandoned.

"I am more than happy to assume the best intentions, if someone is wanting to return her," she said.